Miracles of Moses (peace be upon him)

Pharaoh then demanded some miracle saying, “� ‘If thou hast indeed come with sign, then produce it, if thou art truthful.’ So he (Moses) flung down his rod and behold! It was a serpent plainly visible. And he drew forth his hand, and lo! it appeared white to beholders.” (7:107-109)

These miracles were so impressive and imposing that Pharaoh was dumb founded but his courtiers, the chiefs of his people, came to his aid saying that Moses (peace be upon him) was most surely a skilful sorcerer and desired to turn the people out of their land. The other chiefs joined in and advised Pharaoh to put off Moses (peace be upon him) and his brother for a while and call all skilful sorcerers from all over the country for combating Moses (peace be upon him). Then they asked Moses (peace be upon him) for the appointment of a date for the final contest. Moses (peace be upon him) said, “Your appointment shall be the day of the festival and let the people be assembled when the sun is risen high.” (20:60) The discussion ended there and people dispersed.

Moses (peace be upon him) and his brother returned to Israelites and continually conveyed the message of God to them and kept assuring them of the impending victory.

Moses (peace be upon him) returned to the appointed place on the fixed date and time. Pharaoh and the chiefs had already gathered all the people and their skilful sorcerers. The record of the contest that ensued between them according to the Holy Quran is given below:

“They said, O Moses, either do thou cast first, or we shall be the first to cast.

Moses said, Nay, cast ye, then lo! their cords and their staves appeared to him, by their magic, as though they ran about.

And Moses conceived a fear in his mind.

We said, Fear not, for thou wilt have upper hand;

And cast that which is in thy right hand; it will swallow that which they have wrought, for that which they have wrought is only a sorcerer’s trick. And a sorcerer shall not thrive, contrive what he may!” (20:66-70)

This contest did establish the truth of Moses (peace be upon him) but Pharaoh and his people did not pay heed to it, rather advancing in their transgression and said,

“Wilt thou leave Moses and his people to create disorder in the land and forsake thee and thy gods? He answered, We will ruthlessly slay their sons and let their women live. And surely we are dominant over them.” (7:128)

Thereafter pharaoh and his chiefs intensified in their brutal treatment of Israelites while Moses (peace be upon him) intensified his exhortation to the Israelites for becoming more steadfast in their faith and seeking help from God. The Israelites made complaints about the evil treatment, while Moses (peace be upon him) encouraged them to bear it with patience saying,

“Your Lord is about to destroy your enemy and make you rulers in the land.”

They replied, ‘We were persecuted before thou camest to us and even after thou camest to us.’

He said,

Lord is about to destroy your enemy and make you rulers in the land, that He may see how you act.’ (7:130).